KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — The government is prepared to give university students vast room to freely voice their views and criticisms, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, including criticism of himself.
He said this was acceptable as long as it is not violent or illegal.
To this end, he said the bill to amend the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU), to abolish rules that restrict students’ freedom of expression, will be tabled in Parliament in one or two weeks.
He said this has been conveyed to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir so the repeal of restrictions may be expedited.
“Recently, I told the higher education minister that rules restricting students’ freedom to speak must be abolished, so in one or two weeks we will table it in Parliament,” he said at a meet-and-greet at the National Service Training Branch 515 here today.
In August, Anwar announced that the government would repeal AUKU as it still does not meet university students’ wishes.
AUKU has been amended seven times since it was introduced in 1971, with a 2012 amendment allowing students to take part in activities organised by political parties outside campuses.
